Minimum RAM for Windows 10 | For Gaming, Streaming or Work (2024)

Since its release, Windows 10 became very popular among Windows users. Not only does the operating system works very smoothly and effectively but it also consumes a lot of RAM to run Windows effectively.

So, what is the minimum ram for windows 10? Is it 1 Gb, 2 Gb, 4Gb of ram? Read the entire article to find out, and, while there, also check out 'How Much RAM Do I Need For Sreaming?'

What is RAM?

What Is RAM? Random-access memory, or RAM, is a kind of computer memory that can be accessed randomly.

It can be accessed directly by the CPU and used immediately when necessary. The more RAM your system has, the more software and data it can handle efficiently and quickly.

Because RAM is temporary storage, the data in RAM exists only while the laptop or computer is on.

What is Windows 10?

Windows 10 is the latest operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation that combines features of its previous two leading operating systems; Windows 8 and Windows 7. It bundles your favorite Windows applications, games, and settings to make it the best experience you have ever had.

Popular Features of Windows 10

Cortana

Cortana is perhaps the most popular feature of Windows 10 among its users. It is a virtual voice assistant powered by Microsoft's Bing search engine.

It helps you to control various settings on your PC and the web using voice commands and text input. One can use this application to receive important information and reminders, set reminders, do searches, send emails, messages, etc.

Action Center

Action Center is probably one of the most useful features of Windows 10. It's like having a notification center on your mobile device and it displays notifications from apps and installed software. The Action Center is located at the bottom right corner of your screen where you can receive notifications plus access frequently used settings such as sound and Wi-Fi.

1 GB RAM

1 GB ram is too little to work with. This is the RAM minimum requirement for the 32-bit version of Windows 10. However, I would not recommend this amount of ram on a Windows 10 pc because your machine will be slow.

If your computer has 1GB ram, you might be having a problem while working with various heavy software. I would recommend uninstalling the unwanted software and try not to open a lot of applications at the same time as it would cause the computer to work slowly.

Minimum RAM for Windows 10 | For Gaming, Streaming or Work (1)

2 GB Ram

Windows 10 is such a powerful operating system that the user can perform many tasks on their desktop by using its powerful command prompt. Therefore, it requires a good amount of ram such as 2GB ram in order to accomplish some tasks with it.

Microsoft recommends a minimum of 2GB RAM for the 64-bit version of Windows 10 for programs such as Microsoft Office, Excel and so on. This is because 1 GB is reserved for the operating system itself.

2 GB ram is better than 1GB ram because you will be able to do several tasks smoothly such as browsing the internet, opening your emails, image editing, opening several tabs, just to name a few.

Not the Best For Hardcore Applications

Although 2GB is the recommended random access memory for running the 64-bit Windows 10, you'll not experience performance maximization because system resources are limited. It is not the best for opening a lot of applications and doing labor-intensive tasks such as graphic design, video editing, digital art, and playing games.

A pc with more than 2 GB ram will give you better performance while using Windows 10. But if you have a laptop or a computer with a 2 GB ram, then don’t worry you can still use 64 bit Windows 10 operating system on your computer without any hindrances.

But I recommend at least 4 GB ram so that you don’t have complications while using multiple apps simultaneously or running a program in the background while using a program in front.

4GB RAM

Microsoft recommends a minimum of 1GB RAM for Windows 10. However, it requires 4 GB RAM to run smoothly. If you have 4 GB RAM installed, you will not need to worry about speed issues. Do consider DDR3 vs DDR4 RAM.

Having the right amount of ram for your devices is absolutely crucial. If you are a gamer, then you definitely already understand that it is not only your graphics card that will slow your games but also RAM.Finally, why not read about whether 8GB RAM will meet all your gaming needs.

Minimum RAM for Windows 10 | For Gaming, Streaming or Work (2)

Windows 10 PC Need

RAM or memory is one of the most important components of any computer, particularly a laptop and also desktop PCs. Hence it is very important to find a device with the right RAM such as 4 Gb especially if you intend to use it for streaming, gaming, editing, and operate heavy applications. We recommend reading our best DDR 3 RAM reviews.

Run Many Programs

With 4 Gb of ram, you will be able to run many programs at a time, and resource-heavy software will not slow down your computer or cause lag.

Perform All Tasks With No Problem

4 GB RAM is the best ram that your windows 10 pc need to perform all the tasks without any problem. It is very important that your system should be able to process all of your documents, video, and other related stuff with ease.

This 4GB ram will provide you with smooth performance on daily basis.

8GB RAM

If you want your Windows 10 PC or laptop to be at its best and perform well during the video editing process, playing games, you need to have at least 8GB RAM. It is also great for creative cloud applications.

Many users replace their older machines with PCs that come with this amount of RAM. This is very helpful if you are doing many tasks on your system.

Programs Open Quickly With This Amount of RAM

8GB of ram on your Windows 10 PC will also enable you to run multiple applications simultaneously and faster.

The primary benefit of 8GB of ram is straightforward: applications and programs open more quickly than they do with 4GB ram. How much ram you need matters to you will depend largely on how you actively use your PC.

Minimum RAM for Windows 10 | For Gaming, Streaming or Work (3)

Improve the Performance of Your Windows 10 PC

8 GB of RAM will improve the performance of your Windows 10 PC. If you’re looking for a cheap memory upgrade for your PC, then 8 GB RAM is your best bet.

Constantly switching between active and open applications, watching movies, or running various heavy software can take a toll on your computer’s performance. Purchasing 8 GB RAM will help you in alleviating this frustration by boosting its overall performance and improving multitasking capabilities.

You can only use this amount of ram on the 64-bit version of Windows 10 since the 32-bit OS limits the ram.

16GB RAM

This is one of the best memories to run a Windows 10 pc. 16GB RAM is pretty decent and should be more than enough for video editing, and when you need to run simultaneously several resource-heavy applications.

With this ram, you will have great gameplay on 4K and absolutely free of lags. You can have many tabs open, and the processor or CPU will not slow down or overheat due to overwork.

This RAM is ideal for digital arts, 3D modeling, and even for demanding programs like Revit or Photoshop.

Minimum RAM for Windows 10 | For Gaming, Streaming or Work (4)

Is 4 GB RAM Enough for Windows 10 Gaming?

When it comes to RAM, more is always better for your Windows 10 pc. However, overkill isn’t necessary for most users unless you are editingstr, video conferencing, streaming 8K videos, or gaming at very high resolutions.

4 GB RAM is good memory but not much ram when it comes to gaming on Windows 10. 4 GB of RAM with Windows 10 will play newer games in low to medium graphics quality. You would be able to play most games, but you won’t be able to enjoy the game to its fullest.

As the price of video graphics cards comes down, I would recommend going from 4Gb to at least 8Gb.

How Much RAM Does a Windows10 PC Need?

The system requirements for Windows 10 PC are 2GB for the 64-bit OS version and 1GB for the 32-bit version. However, you will experience issues with this much ram.

The amount of memory needed by your system will depend on the type of programs you plan on using on the system.

2GB of RAM is fine for most daily computing tasks, but you might need more if you're working on resource-hungry programs. Windows 10PC requires 4GB RAM to run smoothly.

If you are using a CAD program or Photoshop, they can take up a lot of extra rams such as 8 and 16 GB.

Minimum RAM for Windows 10 | For Gaming, Streaming or Work (2024)

FAQs

Is 8GB RAM enough for Windows 10 gaming? ›

Yes, 8GB of RAM can be enough for gaming, but it depends on the specific games you play and your overall system configuration. Here's why: Game Requirements: Many modern games are designed to run on systems with 8GB of RAM.

Is 4GB RAM enough for Windows 10 gaming? ›

In conclusion, 4GB of RAM can be enough for Windows 10, as long as it is used for basic tasks such as web browsing and word processing. However, if you plan to use more memory-intensive applications such as games, video editing, or 3D rendering, then 8GB of RAM or more is recommended.

Is 16GB RAM enough for streaming and gaming? ›

While some people might be able to use 8GB to play a few older games, 16GB will definitely improve your gaming experience if you like to play more modern games. But what about running tasks in the background, like Chrome or Discord? For that, you may need 32GB.

Is more RAM or processor better for streaming? ›

A more powerful processor will help with tasks such as streaming or running multiple programs. At the same time, large amounts of RAM will help with multitasking but will primarily improve performance in complex programs and operations.

Is 32 GB RAM overkill for Windows 10? ›

Is 32GB of RAM overkill? This isn't a straightforward question, as it depends on what you're using your PC for. If all you're doing is browsing the internet, then 16GB is fine, and any more is probably overkill. It's when you start doing more demanding tasks that extra memory makes a difference.

How much RAM usage is normal Windows 10? ›

2.8 gigabytes of RAM usage is perfectly normal on a Windows 10 computer. Make sure you do not have any other third-party programs running in the background. You always have some system processes in the background, like the Windows Explorer, DWM for window management, svchost..

How do I know if my RAM is not enough? ›

Signs of low memory in a computer include slow performance, frequent crashes or freezes, error messages, and high disk usage. These issues may indicate that the computer needs an upgrade to address a lack of available physical memory. Framework IT best practices recommend a device with at least 8 GB RAM.

How much RAM do you really need for gaming? ›

16GB offers solid performance in most games and is what most PC gamers use now. 32GB RAM is the standard for high-performance PCs and will likely become the future baseline.

How much SSD do I need for gaming? ›

You need a minimum of 500GB of storage space for a gaming PC. This will allow you to install a few games and some other applications. But if you plan on installing a large library of games or other resource-intensive applications, you will need more capacity.

Is 4GB RAM good or bad for gaming? ›

4GB of RAM is good enough for casual gaming but sometimes for mid-range games your computer may face lagging issues as it needs a good amount of RAM for the best performance.

Does Windows 10 need more than 4GB RAM? ›

So it depends on what you want to use it for, for Windows 10, 4GB Ram is not good enough. Minimum 8GB Ram is needed for day to day task. Hope above information can help you.

Can 4GB RAM run games? ›

Many older games, indie games, and games optimized for lower-end hardware can run smoothly on a system with 4GB of RAM.

Is 32 GB RAM overkill for gaming? ›

When it comes to gaming, 16GB has been the optimal amount of RAM to have for a long time. This was because most games not only had this as the capacity for the recommended game settings, but for the optimal performance too. Games rarely demanded anything more.

Do I need 32GB of RAM for gaming and streaming? ›

While some people might be able to use 8GB to play a few older games, 16GB will definitely improve your gaming experience if you like to play more modern games. But what about running tasks in the background, like Chrome or Discord? For that, you may need 32GB.

Is 64GB RAM overkill for gaming and streaming? ›

A professional workflow with demanding software often benefits from 64GB of RAM. Yet, for most gaming PCs, 16GB is adequate, as the graphics card's VRAM is typically more crucial for gaming performance than system RAM.

Is 64GB of RAM overkill for gaming? ›

64gb is 2x overkill. Yes, I would not go higher then 32 GB to be on the safe side with future releases, just very little point in 64 GB for gaming currently. So if that system is going to last you a while may as well go for 32 if able. 16gb is plenty.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Trent Wehner

Last Updated:

Views: 5862

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Trent Wehner

Birthday: 1993-03-14

Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

Phone: +18698800304764

Job: Senior Farming Developer

Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.